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Rio Hondo College News

MEDIA ALERT
3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601 / 562-692-0921
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Merle Enriquez   Secretary
Department: Planning and Development
Phone:  (562) 692-0921  Ext. 3412
Rio E-Mail: MEnriquez@riohondo.edu

PRESS ADVISORY
3600 Workman Mill Road / Whittier, CA 90601 / 562-692-0921
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Valerie E. Martinez
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2006 Anne K. Turner
(562) 789-4047


RIO HONDO COLLEGE UNVEILS A TRANSPORTATION PILOT PROGRAM
 

Whittier-At the regular meeting of the Rio College Board of Trustees on Wednesday, March 15th, Dr. Andy Howard reported on a pilot program to increase affordable access to Rio Hondo College.

The Pilot Program to Increase Bus Ridership is a partnership between Rio Hondo College and the Foothill Transit, MTA, Montebello, and Norwalk bus lines. The goal of the program is to expand access to the college by lowering transportation costs, finding more cost-effective ways to improve parking on campus and reduce the environmental impact of traffic to the campus. With the increased price of gas, at some colleges students are paying more for transportation than they are for books. At Rio Hondo College students are paying more for transportation than for tuition.

“I have been championing the use of public transportation as a viable way to increase accessibility to the college and make a college education more affordable for our students,” said Gary Mendez, President of the Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees. “I am pleased that the College is committed to making public transportation available. The new program illustrates the importance of integrating student needs and protection of the environment on our campus.”

The pilot program will make free bus passes available to full-time (12 units or more) students. The goal is to increase the regularity of buses to campus and the convenience of the drop off points for students.

“Providing accessibility, convenience, and the opportunity for students to go college is foremost in our Master Plan for the renovation and renewal of Rio Hondo College,” said Dr. Rose Marie Joyce, President of Rio Hondo College. “The bus pilot program is just the first of the many partnerships that we are forming to better serve our students and our community.”

Dr. Howard anticipates that negotiations with the transit companies will be completed in August, and that bus passes will be available for full-time students in fall 2006.

Located in Whittier, California, Rio Hondo College is a collaborative center of lifelong learning which provides innovative, challenging, and quality educational offering - including programs and courses leading to transfer and vocational degrees and certificates - for its diverse students and community. For information on the College or its programs, please call 562-692-0921 or visit www.riohondo.edu .

-RHC-

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